Advice on the Santego 380

[Viper]

Welcome aboard.

As others have mentioned, I wouldn't worry about a little smoke at startup though it's smart to have the engines inspected. At the very least, it's a good idea to get a compression test done and check the condition of fluids, these can tell you a lot. The smoke can be due to seals, the lack of use, needed maintenance, or simply the type of oil being used.

ANY hardware that's fastened to a section of the vessel that is cored is suspect, no matter the brand or model. Of special concern is around hardware that experiences high stress such as rail stanchions, cleats, anchor pulpits and surrounding deck, around windshields, antennas, swim platforms, bridge chairs, etc. You'll also want to check engine hatches if they're exposed to the elements. While some vessel hull sides are solid glass to a certain height above the water line, some are completely cored so you'll want to have the areas around any hardware as well. Be especially aware of plastic discharge fittings, they tend to crack where the outside flange meets the threaded section of fitting just on the inside of the opening.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[jadams159]

Source of the post check

There is some moisture behind the pulpit/in front of the port hole and by all the grab rail stantions. Guy said that was common on santegos. I can fix the stantions, but my concern is by the porthole where the windlass is. Thats a high a stress point. Nothing is spongy, just about 20-25% moisture in those spots according to my tramex meter.

What are anyone's thoughts on this? Thanks!

[bud37]

Heh there.....that number is not altogether high by itself..by porthole do you mean the v berth hatch?.....is there coring there and is the moisture coming from the cushion snaps?. Have you checked up the steps between the bridge coaming on the sides and the bridge deck there in that walkway and at the back where the steps come up from the cockpit, also in the cockpit, the deck plates and the rim around the edge of them, especially at the aft section.

Check where the bridge is joined to the lower deck in the side bow area.

[jadams159]

Source of the post Heh there.....that number is not altogether high by itself..by porthole do you mean the v berth hatch?.....is there coring there and is the moisture coming from the cushion snaps?. Have you checked up the steps between the bridge coaming on the sides and the bridge deck there in that walkway and at the back where the steps come up from the cockpit, also in the cockpit, the deck plates and the rim around the edge of them, especially at the aft section.

Check where the bridge is joined to the lower deck.

Yep, v berth hatch.

Deck, steps, and aft all look decent. Moisture was really only found near cleats and stantions.

[bud37]

Short edit.......One thing to be aware of when checking around cleats and stanchion posts, there are metal backing plates under there which can throw your readings off if too close to the fitting. Generally the numbers will get gradually lower as you get further away from the moisture point of entry. Usually downhill.

Clean glass with no coring will generally read somewhere about 5-7%

Your surveyor armed with the dreaded hammer... , will be able to check those areas for delam etc that the meter won't catch.

[tomschauer]

ooh nooo, not the hammer!

[nocool]

Would this boat be on Lanier by chance?